domain renewal noob mistake?

[speakerwizard]

Hey, my domain name was nearing renewal and i recieved a letter from "domain registry of america" notifying me of renewal prices, i went along with it and have provided my EPP Key/Authorization Code to transfer from elsewhere. the email i got back had a link to namejuice.com to enter the info which i did. i have now had another email from Tucows Brandon Gray Internet Services asking me to accept or deny by inputing their "Transfer Key" in the email. Now im a bit worried as i hear that they prey on renewals that are up and coming, any advise or should i not be worried, i dont know who is affiliated with who and its a .com and i am in the uk also.

 

[angelwatt]

Yeah that stupid domain of america group sent me a letter the first time my domain was coming up for renewal. There pricing was outrageous so just tossed it and I may have requested for them to never contact me again. I've never transferred a domain so not sure how hard it would be to stop the transfer if that is what you're wanting to do. I'd back out of it is possible. Doesn't sound like a process they're taking you through.

 

[speakerwizard]

well this wasnt too expensive, i just wanna know how legit this droa is and what "Brandon Gray Internet Services" is? never done this before, i will be getting my .mac to host it as it suits my small needs.

 

[WildCowboy]

These folks have been convicted of multiple offenses for preying on people over the last five years or so under several different names. Get out.

Here is a good overview of them from several years ago. Unfortunately, most of the links to official documents are now broken.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Well, it really depends on if you feel you're getting value for money and if the service you are with offer the service you need coupled with a competitive pricing structure.

 

[speakerwizard]

well i paid them £30 for 2 year term on my domain name (dont know what it costs elsewhere) im happy enough with that. But now thats done is there much point in backing out?

 

[ChicoWeb]

They phish using real mail. I get clients calling me all day long saying they need to renew and this and that with these scams. It gets a lot of people.

 

[speakerwizard]

bugger bugger bugger, im usually really good with scams and things but web design / hosting just isnt my area, now i feel dumb as they have my EPP Key/Authorization Code and the payment, so ill have to contact them and try to cancel, and im not too hopeful from what ive read.

 

[CanadaRAM]

They are unlikely to abuse your charge card information, they make their money by getting people to transfer domain registration to them (using deceptive 'invoices') and then charging a fee to release it or allow it to be transferred to another registrar.

Brandon Gray etc. is the registrar that DNOA transfers your domain registration records to. Do not send the permission email to them to go ahead - contact your existing host / domain registrar for more information.

http://www.domainnameshop.co.uk/z_info_scams.php

 

[Makosuke]

Man do those guys--Domain Registry of America--make me mad. I get a call or email about one of their junk mail letters on a regular basis, but I guess it's technically just legit enough to keep them in business, and I imagine they get a huge number of transfers thanks to confused or too-busy-to-care people and businesses.

I rank them as one notch above domain squatters and maybe two above email spammers (since they're actually paying money to send you junk mail), but it's disheartening to know they're even going after people outside the US now.